The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Case v. Montana during October.
The case stems from an incident where police entered the home of a man whose girlfriend had reported was suicidal. Officers didn't have a warrant or what's commonly known as probable cause.
Lawyers for the state argued probable cause is only pertinent when officers are responding to or investigating a potential crime, not in situations where they are protecting personal safety.
Mike Thompson, J.D. is a professor of criminal justice at the University of Sioux Falls. He offers his analysis into the arguments in Case v. Montana.
Thompson also offers insight into a death penalty case and a case involving the right to sue the U.S. Postal Service.